Ivan Nova struggles as Yankees fall to Tigers, 7-2, in Detroit

Leon Halip/Getty ImagesAndruw Jones #22 of the New York Yankees watches the action from the dugout during the game aganst the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 6, 2012 in Detroit.

DETROIT — Ivan Nova wiped his brow then waited for what came next.

Manager Joe Girardi had already began his walk to the pitcher’s mound. Nova handed his manager the baseball before trudging back to the dugout. In the last month, the Yankees right-hander has watched his ERA climb by nearly a full run.

And in Monday night’s 7-2 loss to the Tigers, Nova showed why he has slumped so badly.
“We’ve got to find that slider, really,” said catcher Russell Martin. “That’s been the key. When he’s pitching good, he’s had that slider. And lately we haven’t had that.”

When Nova tried to throw the pitch, he learned the hard way that it came out of his hand with little break, leaving him exposed to a Tigers lineup that pounded him for seven runs on 11 hits in 5⅓ innings.

Tigers ace Justin Verlander tied a career-high with 14 strikeouts in his eight innings. He allowed only two unearned runs, which came when he dropped a feed while covering first base in the fifth inning. The play allowed the Yankees to tie the game, though the Tigers tacked on immediately, allowing Verlander to cruise.

“That’s why he’s an ace and that’s why he’s got Cy Youngs on his mantel,” Girardi said. “He logs in 250 inning and wins 18 to 20 games every years. That’s why — he’s got great stuff.”
Earlier in the game, Girardi thought Verlander was getting help from home plate umpire Tony Randazzo. Frustrated with the strike zone, Girardi charged onto the field in the middle of the third inning.

He said later that Randazzo had stared into the Yankees’ dugout, recalling a similar incident here earlier this season, when the Yankees accused Bob Davidson (who worked first base Monday night) of antagonizing behavior.

“I didn’t care for some of the strikes early in the game,” Girardi said. “And we were talking back and forth and he looked at me and stared at me. I don’t get it. When the inning’s over, walk the other way. It’s pretty simple.”

Bench coach Tony Pena, aware that the manager and the umpire had exchanged words throughout the inning, followed Girardi onto he field and dragged him back into the dugout. Perhaps, he should have let Girardi go.

Nova allowed homers to Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera, falling behind 2-0. And when the Yankees rallied off Verlander, Nova allowed five more runs over the next two innings. Nova’s ERA, which had dipped to 3.92 after a one-run effort against the Red Sox on July 8, has risen nearly a full run (4.81) over his last five starts. He has allowed 16 runs in his last two games.

Girardi quickly dismissed the possibility of moving Nova out of the starting rotation.
Said Girardi: “This guy has won a lot of ballgames for us.”

However, it’s clear that Nova has fallen into his worst slide of the season.

“Everybody struggles, man,“ Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. “I don’t care who you are — pitcher, position player — everyone goes through times when they struggle. You’ve got to battle, you’ve got to keep working and you’ve got to find your way out of it. I’m sure he will.”

After the game, Nova wondered aloud if the release point of his slider has caused the pitch to lose some of its break. He acknowledged that he has left too many pitches over the plate. But Nova, who has just one win in his last nine starts, also insisted that his confidence hasn’t been rattled.

“My confidence level is up,” he said. “I’m not the only pitcher in baseball who is going through a bad time right now. I know I’m going to get out of this one.”